Use of agro-industrial waste and organic amendments in managing root- knot nematodes in black nightshade in selected parts of Kenya

Abstract

A study was conducted in both greenhouse and field to determine the use of agro-industrial waste and organic amendments in the management of root-knot nematodes (RKN) in Solanum nigrum. Treatments included cattle manure (CM), goat manure (GM), Tithonia diversifolia (Td) and agro-industrial wastes of tea [Camellia sinensisresi due (Tres)] and pyrethrum [Chrysanthemumcineraria foliumVis.] pymarc (Pm) and vegetable waxy resins (VWR). They were incorporated in sterilized soil at their respective rates into 1 kg plastic pots and S. nigrum seedlings planted, across the treatments, two weeks later. Ten egg-masses were inoculated into three pots for each amendment with uninoculated and unamended pots serving as controls. Field experiment was also conducted on plots measuring 1.2x3.2 m in Kisii County, with unamended plots serving as control. The experiments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. All experiments were terminated 60 days after inoculation and data on plant growth and disease parameters collected. The results revealed suppression of RKN population and reproduction by the various amendments compared to their controls in both field and greenhouse. Improved plant growth was also recorded in all the amendments in both tests except for Tres. However, higher levels of Tres and VWR application caused stunted growth despite significant reductions in GI,Rf and J2 populations. These organic amendments can be used as alternatives in eco-friendly management of Meloidogyne species and other plant parasitic nematodes.